Lubricating system and apparatus



Jmfly 3, 1923. 1,460,383

w. M. s. KILGOUR LUBRICATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS filed May 28, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet, 1

M 3,, m3. HAWBSB W. M. S. KIILGOUR LUBRICATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed May 28 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1,4:6Q3fi3 W. M. S. KILGOUR LLQIBRIGATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed May 28', 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 W. M. S. KILGOUR LUBRICATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Juliy 3, H 923.

Filed May 28. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inward/iv? flaws Patented July 3, 1923.

WALTER M. S.

KILGOUR, OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

LUBRICATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS.

Application filed May 28, 1921.

To all whom it may concern: i

Be it known that I, lVaL'rnR M. S. KIL- noun, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Lexington, in the county of MiddleseX, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Lubricating Systems and Apparatus, of which the following ClQSClilP tion, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention pertains to impr rements in lubricating systems and apparatus and more particularly, though not exclusively, to improvements in systems and apparatus for lubricating journals of the type wherein the rotating shaft runs in a superimposed bearing, the lower side of the shaft being exposed. The most common example of this type of bearing and shaft is the axle and journal box commonly used on trucks for railway cars.

In the drawings, which show a preferred form of one embodiment of my invention Figure 1 is a plan view of a support for a lubricating pad;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the supportillustrated in Fig. 1, a preferred form of lubricating pad being shown in dotted lines, and the support being shown in elevated position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2, the support being collapsed and the lubricating pad being removed;

Fig. l is an end elevation taken from the left of Fig. 2, showing the support in elevated position;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation taken at the left of Fig. 3, showing the support in collapsed position;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a preferred form of pad lying flat;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the pad shown in Fig. 6, but curved as if in operative position relative to a shaft to be lubricated;

Figs. 9 through are diagrammatic views illustrating a preferred method of removing the support and the lubricating pad from the housing surrounding the bearing portion of the axle of a truck; and

Figs. 16 through 20 are diagrammaticviews somewhat similar to those illustrated in Figs. 9 through 15, but showing the pre- Serial No. 473,449.

pad into operative relationship to the shaft to be lubricated.

Referring to the drawings and to the preferred form of my invention selected for illustrative purposes, I have shown a support for a lubricating pad which is extensible and contractible to admit of considerable changes in its shape, such as to facilitate its entrance into and removal from the.- housing surrounding the shaft and bearing of a railway car truck. This support, in the preferred form of my invention illustrated, comprises a pad-supporting frame including end members 30, 31pre'ferably, as illustrated, curved generally to clear the space between the end of a car axle and the adjacent interior surfaces of the journal housing, and receiving between them pau support bars 32, 33, to which may be secured the marginal portions of a lubricatmg pad, hereinafter more fully described. The connection between the end members and the pad support bars is preferably such as to provide some flexibility or distortability so that the end members may, if desired, rock somewhat relative to one another so as to permit full bearing of the pad against the. shaft notwithstanding variations in the journal housing. The pad support bars may have their center portions eccentric to their end bearing portions so that, as the pad support bars are turned relative to the end memhere during the insertion of the support as a whole into the journal box housing or during its removal therefrom, the clearance between the central portions of the pad support bars may be somewhat increased to assist in clearing the end of the axle, while permitting them to swing inwardly so that a sufficient clearance will be provided to prevent interference of these pad support bars with the adjacent portions of the axle housing during the insertion of the support as a whole into the housing or during its re-= moval therefrom.

The preferred form of support illustrated is provided with downwardly extending leg or thrust means. which is preferably, as

illustrated, adapted either to raise or lower the end members 30, 31 and pad support bars 32, 33 as desired, the leg or thrust means preferably being collapsible to conform more or less to the general contour of the end members 30, 31 when desired. Thus, when the leg or thrust members are in frame-elevating position, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, the pad support bars are elevated relative to the bottom of the frame, in position to press the lubricating pad against the bottom of the journal or in position to clear certain portions of the end of the shaft axle and interior of the housing, as hereinafter more fully described.

On the other hand, when the leg or thrust means is in collapsed position, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, the leg or thrust means is generally in non-interfering position so that interference with the insertion of the device as a whole is obviated, except at certain positions during insertion and removal thereof from the housing, these positions being such that elevation of the frame into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4 will obviate-the interference.

The preferred form of leg or thrust means illustrated includes two parts pivoted rela tive to each other and relative to the end members 30, 31, the common pivot 34 being located on the end member 30 and the common pivot 35 being located on the end mem ber 31. Each of these leg or thrust members may conveniently be formed with two end pieces 36, 37 (36, 37) rigidly connected by connecting bars 38 (38). To permit the support as a whole to shift somewhat in the housing of the bearing in order to promote easy alignment, the leg or thrust means may be provided with rollers 39, (39', 40). To urge the support or thrust means into pad elevating position or to hold them in collapsed position, as the case may be, I preferably provide resilient means typified by the spring 41 connecting the projecting lugs 42 and 43 on the oppositely pivoted portions of the leg or thrust means so that when the frame is in elevated position as shown in Fi 4 the sorin 41 ur es 7 t3 7 b b the pad-carrying frame upwardly while the same spring 41 when the frame is collapsed, as illustrated in Fig. 5, tends to maintain the parts in collapsed position. If desired, I may provide a second spring 44 at the opposite end of the leg or thrust means to perform functions similar to that performed by the spring 41 and to reinforce the action of the latter. To facilitate movement of the frame from elevated position into collapsed position and vice versa, I preferably provide at that end thereof which is adjacent the'outer end of the journal housing control means typified by the projections 50,

51 from the end member 31 cooperating with finger pieces 52, 53 on the ends of slotted links 54, 55 pivoted at 56, 57 to the these slots. elevated position, as viewed in Fig. 4, it is clear that any force tending to separate the parts 50, 51 from the parts 52, 53 will collapse the frame into the position shown in Fig. 5. Conversely, it is clear that assuming'the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 5, the parts 50, 51 are pressed toward the parts 52, 53, the spring 41 will be extended until the parts pivoted at 34, 35 have passed the center, after which the spring will urge the frame into the elevated position shown in Fig. 4.

The preferred form of pad is shown in detail in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. The upper surfaceof the pad, as viewed in Figs. 7 and 8, is formed of suitable absorbent material such as the wool felt 60 into which is inserted, preferably in staggered relationship as illustrated, wear and glaze preventing inserts 61, herein shown as eight in number, the central inserts being in staggered relationship and inserted in openings in the Assuming the frame to be in surface of the felt pad which are provided where the depending wicks 62 (Fig. 7) are cut from the pad. The pad as a whole may be backed by any suitable flexible backing, such as the canvas 63, to which the inserts 61 may be riveted and to which the felt 60 may be secured by rivets 64 passing through tubular rivets 65, which may be conveniently used to connect the hooks 66 to the pad. The hooks 66, shown as eight in number, four at each side of the pad, are adapted to engage over the pad support bars 32, 33 of the pad support frame. The operation of applying the pad will be more fully described shortly. The hooks 66 are preferably separated one from the other a sufficient distance to permit relatively free flexing of the sides of the pad and to contribute to this free flexing the canvas backing may be split between the hooks as shown at 67. The plies of felt in the depending wicks 62 are preferably sep arated, as illustrated in Fig. 7, to increase the absorbent capacity of the wick.

Referring now to Fig. 9 and subsequent figures, I have shown a car axle 70 of the.

usual type providing the bearing portion 71 usual hearing or journal 73 held in place above the shaft by the usual wedge 74. The housing 75 illustrated is of the Symington type. I have selected this type as. being the most difficult into which to fit a pad support and because any pad support which can be entered into and removed from a Symington housing can be more easily inserted into and removed from other standard types of housing approved by the Master Car Builders Association.

Assuming the pad support and pad to be in place pressed against the lower side of the bearing portion 71 of the axle as viewed in Fig. 9, the first stepin removing the lubricating device from the box is to collapse the support as viewed in Fig. 10. This may be effected either by pushing down on the projecting parts 50, 51, the thrust either being taken against the bottom of the journal or by the fingers of the manipulator against the projections 52, 53 as desired. The support and pad may now be withdrawn to the position shown in F 11, at which point the pad may be removed by workin the hooks 66 at the sides of the pad along tliepad support bars 33 until the pad is free. The frame may then be further removed until the position shown in Fig. 13 is attained, at which point the connecting bars 38, 38 of the leg or thrust means will come in contact with the collar 72, the lower portion of the end member "bearing against the lip of the housing. The support or frame should now be changed into extended position. This may be done either by an outward pull on the frame, exerted throu h the parts and 51, or by squeezing t e parts 50, 51 toward the parts 52, 53. This permits the frame to come out until the position shown in Fig. 14 is reached, at which point the fulcrum 341 and associated parts will interfere with the inside face of the collar 72. The frame should now be again collapsed, which may be conveniently effected by pressing down on the handle portions 50, 51, pursuant towhich the frame may beentirely removed from the journal. I11 ordinary practice, it is rarely necessary to remove the frame entirely from the box, it being practicable to remove the old lubrieating pad and insert a new one, as hereinafter more fully described, when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 12.

I will now describe the insertion of the frame and belt, this operation being briefly shown in Figs. 16. through 20. The frame should initially be collapsed as to theposition shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and then inserted in the housing until the position shown in Fig. 16 is reached. ing bars 38, 38" will now interfere with the collar 72 and. the pivot 35 and associated parts will interfere with the front lip of the housing. The frame may then be extended by pulling upward on the handle portions 50, 51 until the position shown in Fig. 17 is reached, pursuant to which the frame may be inserted in the housing until the position shown in Fig. 18 is reached. The pivot 35 will now bear against the collar 72, while the bottom portion of the leg or thrust means bears against the bottom of the box. If now the grip portions 50, 51 are pressed downwardly while upward pressure is exerted on the grip portions 52 and 53, the frame will be collapsed so that the pad support may be entered to the position shown in Fig. 19. All the foregoing manipulation The connectillustrated in Figs.16 through 19 has been effected without the lubricating pad being cating pad may be Worked into its proper.

relation to its support by alternately passing the hooks'66 over the pad support bars 32 and 33 and pressing the pad forward as this is effected until it iscompletely entered on the pad support bars. The frame and thepad in place thereon may now be pushed forwardly into the positionjshown in Fig. 10 after which a squeezing of the grip portions 50, 51 toward the grip portions 52, 53 will elevate the support into the position shown in F ig. 9 with the lubricating pad against the under side'of the bearing surface 71.

The parts of the support are preferably so proportioned to the thickness of the pad when originally applied that,-as the pad wears down, the pressure of the spring 41,

or springs 41 and 141 as the case may be, urges the support into more elevated position so as to constantly maintain a firm lubricating contact between the pad and the surface to be lubricated. The inserts 61 prevent the pressure between the pad and surface to be lubricated becoming so great as to result in too rapid wear of the pad qr as to result in glazing of the pad with resultant impairment of its lubricant-carrying property.

The pad being flexible, and the pad-supporting frame being more or less flexible, an opportunity is afforded for the pad to conform very closely to the surface to be lubricated. In the preferred form of my invention illustrated, the frame and pad are free to rock somewhat about the hearing, this being facilitated by the roller supports 39, e0 and 39,40. Thus the frame and pad may shift somewhat when the direction of rotation of'the surface to belubricated is changed.

In the foregoing description no reference ha been made to the function of curving or offsetting the center portion of the pad support bars 32, 33 and in mounting these bars so that they may swing. It will be obvious that if these bars bear against the collar 72 during insertion or removal, the tendency will be for them to swing outwardly and increase the clearance between them. Incidentally, the shoulders at the ends of the offset portion serve as stops for the hooks on the lubricating pad so that the pad cannot shift unduly relative to its carrying frame. The projections to which. the spring 11 is attached are extended to bear against the inner wall of the housing 7 5 at theback end thereof so that the frame is positioned against moving too far back in the housing.

Ill

The projections 50, 51 and finger pieces 52, 53 will always be considerably separated while the frame is in use, and will gradually approach one another as the lubricating pad wears thin. The relative position of these parts may, therefore, conveniently be used to indicate whether or not renewal of the pad should be effected While I have shown and described a preferred form of one embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that major changes involving omission, substitution, alteration and reversal of parts, and even changes in the mode of operation, may be made without departing from the scope of my invention, which is best defined in the following claims.

Claims:

1. A support for a lubricating pad comprising a frame for holding the pad in contact with the shaft to be lubricated, pivoted leg means extending below said frame for holding the pad in said frame against the shaft, andresilient means urging said leg means into frame-elevating position when below the pivot on which said legs are mounted and holding said legs in general conformity to the ends of said frame when above said pivot.

2. A support for a-lubricating pad includ ing a frame having lateral pad-engaging parts at each side thereof. said pad-engaging parts'eccentric through at least a portion of their length to permit variation in the width of said frame during its insertion into and its removal from the journal casing. v

3. A support for a lubricating pad comprising a frame generally shaped to conform to a portion of the peripheral surface of a cylinder, leg members below said frame to support said frame and lubricating pad carried thereby in contact with the shaft,

said leg ,members collapsible into general conformity with said frame, as viewed in end elevation, to facilitate entrance of said frame into a journal casing and removal thereof from said journal casing.

4;. A lubricating pad for journal boxes comprising a flexible backing, absorbent lubricant-carrying material secured to said backing, incompressible inserts secured to said backing, and pad-supporting hooks secured to said backing, said backing slit at its lateral edges between said hooks to increase the flexibility of said pad adjacent said hooks.

5. A pad for journal boxes comprising, in combination, a flexible backing, felt strips secured to said backing, said strips slit lengthwise for approximately one-half their length and having one-half of the slitted portion passed throughan aperture in said backing to provide a depending wick and incompressible inserts for relieving the pressure on said pads, said inserts filling the spaces provided by the portions of said pads passed through said backing to provide said wicks.

6. A pad for journal box lubrication comprising a flexible backing, absorbent portions secured to said backing, incompressible spacing blocks secured to said backing to limit the wear and pressure on said absorbent portions, said blocks recessed in a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft to provide oil-retaining reservoirs adjacent the absorbent portions of said pad.

7. A lubricating pad for journal bearings comprising a flexible backing, ho0k-carrying plates, tubular rivets securing said plates to said backing, absorbent portions carried by said backing and securing means passing through said absorbent portions and through said tubular rivets for securing said absorbent portions to said backlng. I

8. A hearing installation comprising, in combination, a shaft, a bearing above the shaft, a lubricating pad held against the bottom of the shaft on the opposite side from said bearing, a frame supporting said pad, said frame having leg members, and rolls at the lower ends of said leg members to contact with the inside of the bearing housing to promote easy alignment of said frame and pad with said shaft.

9. A journal box installation comprising, in combination, a shaft, a bearing above said shaft, a housing surrounding said shaft and bearing and provided with an opening at one end thereof, bearing-lubricating pad and a collapsible support for said pad WALTER M, s. KILGGUR.

including resilient means for pressing said 

